Senior Character Technical Director (TD)

Placements24; Soweto; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work in Soweto

Professional development & training

Cutting-edge technology access

Creative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Soweto, Gauteng, is seeking a Senior Character Technical Director to lead rigging and animation systems for our game projects. You will develop advanced character rigs, optimize pipelines, and write tools to streamline workflows for the team.

You will collaborate with animators and programmers to ensure high-quality performance, maintain technical standards, mentor junior artists, and push the boundaries of character realism in interactive entertainment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years in technical art or technical animation for video games with a focus on character TD work.
• Expert proficiency in Maya with advanced rigging, character setup, and scripting (Python preferred).
• Strong understanding of anatomy, form, and animation principles.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity and their character animation systems.
• Knowledge of skinning techniques and tools for realistic deformation.
• Experience with character pipeline development and optimization.
• Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization for character assets.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain advanced character rigs and skinning solutions using Maya and relevant tools.
• Create and optimize character pipelines for efficient asset creation and integration into game engines (Unreal/Unity).
• Write scripts and tools (Python) to automate tasks and improve workflow efficiency for the character team.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their needs and enable high-quality animation performance.
• Work closely with programmers to integrate character systems into the game engine and troubleshoot issues.
• Ensure character assets meet performance, memory, and platform requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex rigging, skinning, and animation-related issues.
• Stay current with advancements in character rigging, animation, and game engine tech.
• Mentor junior technical artists and TDs with guidance and support.

Skills

Character rigging

Python scripting

Pipeline development

Animation systems

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation or related field

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a studio renowned for its groundbreaking character animation and visual fidelity, is seeking a Senior Character Technical Director (TD) to join their team in Soweto, Gauteng . This pivotal role bridges the gap between artistry and technology, focusing on developing, implementing, and maintaining robust character rigging and animation systems. You will be instrumental in ensuring characters move realistically and perform optimally within the game engine. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of character rigging, skinning, pipeline development, and scripting, coupled with strong problem-solving abilities and a passion for pushing the boundaries of character performance in games. You will collaborate closely with character artists, animators, and programmers to deliver high-quality, technically sound character solutions. This is a prime opportunity to contribute to the creation of unforgettable characters in ambitious game projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain advanced character rigs and skinning solutions using Maya and relevant tools.
• Create and optimize character pipelines for efficient asset creation and integration into game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Write scripts and tools (e.g., Python) to automate tasks and improve workflow efficiency for the character team.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their needs and facilitate high-quality animation performance.
• Work closely with programmers to integrate character systems into the game engine and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Ensure character assets meet technical specifications for performance, memory usage, and platform compatibility.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex rigging, skinning, and animation-related issues.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in character rigging, animation, and game engine technology.
• Mentor junior technical artists and TDs, providing guidance and support.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in technical art or technical animation for video games, with a focus on character TD work.
• Expert proficiency in Maya, including advanced rigging, character setup, and scripting (Python preferred).
• Strong understanding of anatomy, form, and principles of animation.
• Experience with game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity, and their character animation systems.
• Knowledge of skinning techniques and tools for achieving realistic deformation.
• Experience with character pipeline development and optimization.
• Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization techniques for character assets.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• This hybrid role provides the flexibility to work remotely while also fostering team collaboration at our studio in Soweto, Gauteng.
• You will have access to cutting-edge technology, opportunities for professional development and training, and a supportive and creative work environment.
• Join a team of dedicated professionals working on exciting and visually stunning projects, and contribute your expertise to bringing memorable characters to life in the world of interactive entertainment.